The Loyal One by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books

NINETEEN

“Don’t worry, Katie. All of us were annoyed with you,” E.A. said. After a pause, she looked across the campfire. “Except for maybe Logan, who was trying to stop his leg from bleeding.”

His bike needed fresh air in its back tire.

Aggravated with himself for not checking the bike’s condition until just now, Harley rolled it out of the barn and situated it in the middle of the parking area right in front. Then he stomped back into the much darker barn and pulled out the air pump. He hoped it still worked. Otherwise, he was going to be late getting over to the Millers’ house, which would necessitate a lot of explanations and apologies before he even got around to telling Melody and her parents that he couldn’t do any work for them.

Just as he was giving the air pump a few experimental pumps, his father walked over from the garden.

“You know, you don’t have to go over there,” Daed said as he watched Harley fasten the pump to the bicycle’s back tire. “You don’t owe that girl anything, and it ain’t like you need the work.”

Harley could hardly stop himself from gaping at his father. They didn’t have conversations like this, conversations about how he was feeling about women in his life. Actually, they hadn’t had too many conversations ever. Usually his father told him to do something and Harley did it.

Feeling tentative, he said, “Are you talking about Melody or Katie?”

“Melody, of course. You know your mother and I have always liked Katie Steury.”

Harley looked up at him in surprise before crouching on one knee to refasten the cap on the tire.

Some might say that his father would think the opposite. Katie’s sister had been disruptive and had left as a teenager, and her mother had become something of a recluse. On the other hand, Melody Miller’s family seemed like they could have been on an Amish calendar at one of the town’s gift shops, their lives seemed so perfect.

“I’m surprised to hear you say that.”

“I don’t know why. The girl not only broke your heart, but she also never seemed to appreciate you.” He grunted. “Or what she had. She always wanted something more.” Looking embarrassed to have said so much, he shook his head. “I mean, that was always my impression.”

“It was a gut impression. The right one,” Harley said slowly as he began pumping air into the front tire. “I had thought that her confidence and spirit might complement mine, but now I have to say that I should’ve known better.”

“If you can say that, why are you going over to her house?”

After checking to make sure the tire was properly filled and capping it, Harley got to his feet. “I don’t want to make things worse between our families.”

“Worse?”

“Melody can hold a grudge. And, she can, at times, be a touch vindictive.” More than a touch. “And you know how her parents can be . . . it is hard to tell them no.”

Still looking aggrieved, Daed said, “I see.

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